Chicks are Pullets - 2022

 The chicks are, mostly, pullets now.  Their heads are getting feathered, and the older ones are in the garage without any heat.  They should be ready to move outside next weekend. I have a few chicks that are a week younger and they may need an extra week, or I could put the brooder warmer into a coop outside for a week to help them adjust.  We had three families purchase 18 of the chicks. That leaves us with 15 to figure out which to keep and which to sell in May. 

All the meat chicks survived. They are almost two weeks old which is good.  They are growing fast.  Little porkies.  Will need to stop feeding them at night after Monday to help with a better growth rate to cut down on them out growing their leg strength. 12 hours of eating per day so that they don't get too big too fast. 

Snowy April 2022?

Now this is frustrating.  Planted all our trees (fruit and Christmas stock), berries and grapes a few weeks ago only to have freezing and snow happen!  Not sure what all we'll lose.  Hoping we won't lose them all. Ratz! 

Spring Chicklet Update 2022

 This is a photo of the chicks in their brooder with hemp shavings.  It lasts longer, smells better, and easier to clean! We had doggie pee pads down under it, but now that the chicks are getting older, they are more curious and peck at everything. Switched over to kraft paper to line the floor under the shavings. While I can tell them apart, it may not be so easy for the untrained eye. There are Barred Plymouth Rock, Australorp, Welsummer, Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, and Silver Laced Wyandotte in the brooder. 

The younger chicks (one week younger) are in a large box still, but not for much longer as they will start flying around here too. They are not yet on shavings, but will be in a few days.  They are Lavender Orpington, Black Copper Maran, and two more Australorp. They can't hold their own yet with the older birds. So for now, they are their own little flock.  As they get taller and faster, they will be added into the larger flock.